Commitment to Sustainability

The Gorge Games is committed to sustainability in many forms. "Sustainability means being an event that is solvent and understands that Gorge Games are a community event first.” according to Suzanne Wright, Sustainability Director. “Gorge Games wants to be a great steward within the community and it believes fundamentally that taking care of Gorge communities and all their various stakeholders means those communities, will in turn, take care of us,” Wright concluded. Wright added, “It also means the Gorge Games is committed to preserving the unique and pristine natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Gorge Games is a passionate steward in this area,” she concluded. The Gorge Games’ sustainability commitment also acknowledges that they are a work in progress. For the inaugural Gorge Games, implementation of as many possible green practices will be employed. Gorge Games believes there is much more an event can accomplish as a “green” event.

“Gorge Games is committed to principles of sustainability,” commented Joshua Ryan, CEO and Co-Founder of Gorge Games, LLC. “We realized there was an opportunity to weave sustainability programming and logistical infrastructure from the earliest planning stages. To retain management staff dedicated to sustainability for a relatively new event is significant in itself. I think people will be amazed at the level of commitment we have to sustainability and how we’re changing the ways events do business at every level,” Ryan concluded.

The Gorge Games will feature more than 40 different competitive categories among the 10 sports including men, women, junior and master classifications. Several of these events are located in pristine Oregon wilderness and the Gorge Games is working hard to preserve our natural habitat and minimize the impact of the event on local communities.

[View/Download Press Release - PDF]

Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Program
Partnering with Sustainable Organizations
Waste Prevention and Reduction
Transportation
Events and Programming
Energy
Water
Food
Lodging
Administrative
Community Organizations, Charity and Non-Profit Support
Measuring Gorge Games Carbon Footprint – Pre Games
Measuring Gorge Games Carbon Footprint – Post Games
Offsetting our Carbon Footprint
Green Guidelines for Athletes Residing in Athlete Village
For All Athletes and Their Families, Gorge Games is Requesting a PACK IN/PACK OUT Policy
Green Guidelines for All Spectators Attending the Games
Sustainability in the Future

Sustainability In Action: What the Gorge Games is implementing for the 2008 Summer Gorge Games

Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Program
Pacific Power’s Blue Sky Program and the Gorge Games support environmental sustainability in the Columbia Gorge! All Pacific Power Blue Sky customers will receive a $10 discount off the cost of their ticket at the ticket counter when they bring a current bill proving their enrollment. Limit of $10 per household. Redeemable for one day only. All other Pacific Power customers can enroll in Blue Sky at the event and receive a $10 discount off their Gorge Games ticket.

Partnering with Sustainable Organizations
Those organizations within our local sustainable community and beyond that are offering their time, expertise, insight, and experience to enrich the Gorge Games in 2008:

a. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
b. Sustainable Travel International
c Council for Responsible Sport
d. Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute
e. Columbia Gorge Earth Center
f. Columbia RiverKeeper

Waste Prevention and Reduction
a. Elaborate Recycling Center and Composting bins manned by volunteers. This investment will significantly reduce the garbage produced.
b. Recycling plastic, glass & aluminum bottles & cans. Collection is a fund raiser for local kids (Cooper Spur Race Team )
c. Distribute compost to local farms
d. Offering only PLA (corn-based) bio-degradable cups in our beer & wine garden.
e. Using only PLA (corn-based) bio-degradable flatware, plates, napkins, bags and cups (and requiring our food vendors to do the same) in Adventure & Athlete Villages.
f. Using environmental friendly portable bathrooms. (Biodegradable solution and toilet paper made from recycle material.)

Transportation
a. Athletes and spectators given opportunity to offset travel with carbon credits via website.
b. Cycling focus: Bike valet center staffed by volunteers.
c. Free shuttle buses to event sites from parking lots and Adventure & Athletes Village.
d. Shuttles/Public transport from Portland &Seattle (Amtrak Discount).
e. Providing paid and free parking lots to and from the primary event site(s) in the Port of Hood River.
f. All volunteers to be shuttled to event sites from remote parking lots.

Events and Programming
a. All registration is electronic. No paper-based registration available.
b. Recycled Winner Medals from local company in Mosier, OR using old bike parts.
c. Getting green messaging to athletes upon registration.
d. Selling Klean Kanteen stainless water bottles & providing free re-fill water.
e. Community Clean-up! Trail and event site clean up before and after events (REI Trail teams & local volunteers).
f. Incentivizing kids to participate: All Ages Experience with Community Education.
g. Incentivizing minorities, people with disabilities & people at risk. (The Next Door)
h. Providing environmental education & naturalist programming for kids on habitats, recycling, Leave No Trace principles, etc. (Columbia Gorge Ecology Center)

Energy
a. Gorge Games Is an “event powered by 100% renewable (wind) energy.” Provided by Pacific Power.
b. All generators run on bio-diesel fuel.
c. Offering special discounts including free admission to individuals signing up for Blue Sky Renewable Energy Program in July.
d. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for new Pacific Power/Vestas Wind Farm in Goldendale, WA.

Water
a. Water provided by Water From The Hood (Local source).
b. Selling Klean Kanteen stainless water bottles & providing free re-fill water stations.
c. Non –profit The Next Door Volunteers to sell & receive 25% of water sale proceeds.
d. Gray water disposal for food vendors.

Food
a. Using all Trellis Earth PLA & bagasse bio-degradable utensils & food service products.
b. Local vendors using local, seasonal & organic ingredients whenever possible
c. Vegetarian/Vegan Food Options available
d. Recycling of materials and composting of scrap and waste food, Stations available and manned by volunteers to assist in correct usage and non-intrusive education.
e. Composting of PLA/bio-degradable food service products.

Lodging
a. Athletes Village low-cost lodging provided for up to 600 people– Leave No Trace principles encouraged – Pack it in/Pack it out!
b. Alternative Lodging – dorms, hostels, & campgrounds are available.
c. Eco-friendly Bed and Breakfasts and hotels are available.

Administrative
a. Carpooling from Portland office to Hood River and vice-versa.
b. Gorge Games Official Program ad printed on recycled paper – HR News, Portland Mercury & Seattle Stranger (140,000 copies).
c. PO Cards (advertising) printed on recycled paper with Soy based inks. Forest Sustainability Council (FSC) certified.
d. Corporate communications all printed on recycled paper.
e. Office recycling programs used.
f. Digital Press Kits
g. Documentary being made of Gorge Games Sustainability Journey. Will be used for education and promotion of large scale sustainable events.

Community Organizations, Charity and Non-Profit Support
a. The Next Door – Receive 25% of water sale proceeds
b. CGEI – Receive 25% of donated juice sale proceeds
c. Health Promotion – partnering with Providence Hospital
d. Donations to partner non-profit agencies.

Measuring Gorge Games Carbon Footprint – Pre Games
We will estimate all participant, spectator & staff carbon emissions. Data will be provided to an independent, certified non-profit (Sustainable Travel International) to establish a credible estimate of the carbon emissions footprint of event. Measures using industry standards are focused on areas of Waste, Energy and Travel. Will purchase carbon offset portfolio prior to event so event is Carbon Neutral.

Measuring Gorge Games Carbon Footprint – Post Games
We will provide final data to Sustainable Travel to do final accurate carbon footprint measurement.

a. Purchase additional offset portfolio if necessary.
b. What do we do right?
c. What did we learn?
d. What can we do differently for the next Gorge Games?
e. Post our successes and challenges. Be open & honest & accountable.

Offsetting our Carbon Footprint
a. Purchase a certified offset portfolio through Sustainable Travel.
b. Travelers can off set their own footprint from air and car travel carbon calculator directly via link on Gorge Games website.
c. Gorge Games staff volunteered for community tree planting for Waterfront Park in Hood River.

Green Guidelines for Athletes Residing in Athlete Village
The Gorge Games is adopting and encouraging the outdoor ethics of the Leave No Trace organization summarized in the following 7 principles:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: This will allow you to more easily adhere to Leave No Trace techniques.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Damage (soil compaction) to land occurs when surface vegetation or organisms are trampled beyond repair. This means staying on existing trails and staying at designated sites like Athletes Village.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly: There are recycling and composting stations throughout Athletes and Adventure Villages. Trash and litter should be packed out. Follow the green guidelines posted in all portable bathrooms so that waste can be properly treated.
4. Leave What You Find: Leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects as found will allow others a sense of discovery. Similarly, Leave No Trace directs people to minimize site alterations, such as digging tent trenches, hammering nails into trees, and permanently clearing an area of rocks or twigs. Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
5. Minimize Use and Impact of Fire: No individual camp or cooking fires are permitted at Athlete’s and Adventure Village.
6. Respect Wildlife: Do not harass, feed, or harm ANY form of wildlife. Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely. Closely control your dog when recreating together outside.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

For all athletes and their families, Gorge Games is requesting a PACK IN/PACK OUT policy
a. Plan Ahead and Prepare - For each item you plan to bring to the Gorge Games think through how you’re going to dispose of it and what you will need to bring back home. b. Reduce Your Packaging - Bringing less means having less to bring out. Leave unnecessary packaging at home; such as cardboard cereal boxes, outer wrappings of any kind, battery packages, etc.
c. Choose reusable containers over cans or bottles - Leave your single use water bottles at home please. Please bring a refillable water bottle or purchase one from one of our green vendors. Gorge Games will have delicious and safe water available for you to drink.
d. Reduce your “stuff” - It’s best to use reusable dishware and eating utensils. However, if you really need to use disposables for some reason, look into getting biodegradable and compostable versions rather than using plastic or styrofoam.
e. Be Aware of Very Small Items - No Trace really does mean NO trace. f. Pick up as you go - While you're walking around the villages and competition sites, please make an effort to pick up any trash you see before the wind carries it away. After you pick up your site trash to carry home, do a last minute check of your site for cigarette butts, gum wrappers, etc. Many of those will be hidden under tarps, tents, and vehicles.
g. Reduce your trash - For food waste at your site, bring a large plastic bucket with a secure lid. You can fill it with compostable materials, depositing the contents at one of the Gorge Games Recycling and Composting Stations or take it home to your garden!

Green Guidelines for all Spectators attending the Games
a. Repeat list of seven Leave No Trace Principles if site plan can accommodate. b. Leave your single use water bottles at home please. Please bring a refillable water bottle or purchase one from one of our green vendors. Gorge Games will have water available for free refilling.
c. Offset your own travel carbon footprint when purchasing airplane tickets and booking hotels. There is a handy carbon offset calculator on the www.gorgegames.net website. d. Carpool to the Gorge Games.
e. Use shuttle buses provided from remote parking lots to Adventure Village and all competition sites to reduce local congestion and impact on natural habitats.
f. Leave all unnecessary items at home.

Sustainability in the Future
1. Become a carbon neutral event
2. Zero landfill event
3. Adopt more sustainable practices and improve attendee education of our Sustainable Mission
4. Become a leader in sustainable event management
5. Certified by the Council for Responsible Sport
6. Exclusively offer biodegradable and reusable water bottles and ban single serve plastic water bottles
7. Staff member will be Leave No Trace Certified
8. All food sourced within 100 miles of event
9. Mechanism for participants to provide feedback on sustainability efforts. (i.e. Gorge Games web survey)